We woke up in Fingal to a sight we hadn't seen yet during our time in Tasmania—thick, heavy mist rolling through the valleys between the hills. It was incredibly quiet, almost like the world was holding its breath. Steve stepped outside first and was struck by how the white fog just sat there, hugging the landscape and hiding the peaks we’d seen so clearly the day before.

The view from the park in Fingal as the heavy Tassie mist began to roll over the houses and hide the valley.
The view from the park in Fingal as the heavy Tassie mist began to roll over the houses and hide the valley.

Lisa thought it looked like a scene from a storybook, especially as we looked across the local park where the mist seemed to be pouring over the rooftops of the houses. Even as the sun started to poke through, the sky stayed a mix of brilliant blue and those low, moody clouds. We took a quick stroll down the main street before heading off, and it was quite a sight to see the mist lingering right behind the old buildings and the "Aladdin’s" sign. It gave the whole town a bit of a magical, tucked-away feeling.

The quiet main street of Fingal where the morning mist was still clinging to the hills behind the local shops.
The quiet main street of Fingal where the morning mist was still clinging to the hills behind the local shops.

We eventually pulled ourselves away from the mountain air and wound our way back down the hill toward the coast. We were heading for Lagoon Beach, just north of Bicheno, to meet up with Sue and Greg for a few days. There’s something about getting back to the salt air that always feels like coming home, even when home is thousands of kilometres away in WA.

Once we got ourselves settled, we headed straight out for a long walk along the sand. The area is known as the Chain of Lagoons, and once you stand on the shore, you can see exactly why. It’s a beautiful stretch where the water and the land seem to be constantly shaking hands. We spent the afternoon wandering along the edge of the water, looking out at the dark, forested hills of the Douglas-Apsley National Park that frame the coast.

A perfect afternoon at the lagoon where the calm water meets the sand, with the mountains of the national park standing tall in the background.
A perfect afternoon at the lagoon where the calm water meets the sand, with the mountains of the national park standing tall in the background.

The kids would have loved it here; the sand was covered in footprints from other explorers, and the water in the lagoons was so still and inviting. We’ve been learning all about this "chain"—it’s a whole series of spots like Georges Bay and Ansons Bay. Lisa was particularly excited about Moulting Lagoon because we heard it’s a massive breeding ground for black swans and pelicans. We didn't see the swans today, but knowing they are out there in the marshes makes the place feel so alive.

It’s been a day of real contrasts—from the cold, silent mist of the Fingal valley to the bright, wide-open spaces of the lagoons. Steve’s quite content with a bit of sand between his toes again, and we’re both looking forward to a few days of good company and coastal walks with Sue and Greg.